New Cleveland Bishop

Bishop Richard Lennon, auxiliary of Boston

Comments

[John B]

I havent heard much about Bp. Lennon, other than he was close to Cardinal Law, and had a thankless task after Cardinal Law resigned. I also read he celebrated an Anglican Use mass in the Boston areas as well.

[Keith]

Now if we can get them to think a little further south to the Youngstown diocese.

[Christine]

I must say I didn't think Bishop Pilla's successor would be appointed so soon.

Here's hoping that Bishop Lennon will do some much needed house cleaning in the Diocese of Cleveland.

[Christine]

Hmm, there's a lot of interesting articles on the net about Bishop Lennon. Sounds like he had a pretty strong, orthodox Catholic upbringing. He also served as a spiritual advisor/confessor for the Daughters of Saint Paul and appears to be a champion for consecrated religious life.

That's a good thing!

[AmericanPapist]

What's an Anglican use Mass?

[Jim]

From what I know of Bishop Lennon, he is a good man. He was very good with the Daughters of St. Paul as mentioned above. While I don't know him personally, some in my family do. We will pray for him in his new diocese.

[RP Burke]

Christine, please explain which houses you think need to be cleaned.

[Brian]

Funny thing is, Cleveland meida hasn't even picked this story up yet. There is a good deal of work to be done here in Cleveland, and i'm curious what the readers of this blog would consider it as.

[Jay Anderson]

Anglican Use.

[Brian Lester]

American Papist:

You can find out the basics about Anglican Use at the webisite of Our Lady of Atonement in San Antonio:

http://atonementonline.com

A snippet:

Our Lady of the Atonement Church is a Roman Catholic parish of the Archdiocese of San Antonio, and is the first of several “personal parishes” erected in the United States for the Anglican Use Liturgy. This parish has no affiliation with the so-called “Continuing Anglican Movement,” nor with any branch of the Episcopal or Anglican churches. Rather, its members, many of whom are converts from the Episcopal Church, have been granted permission to retain some elements of the Anglican liturgical heritage while being fully Roman Catholic. Throughout the world the Catholic Church has numerous liturgical rites all under the authority of the Roman Pontiff, and the Church has always taught that there can be legitimate diversity in unity. While the liturgy used at Our Lady of the Atonement Parish is not a separate Rite, it is the only approved variation of the Latin Rite in the United States.

[Christine]

RP, houses such as FutureChurch. I'm no fan of their radical agenda and it was a scandal that they were operating out of parish property. I think that's been resolved but we need a bishop who's willing to take a firmer stand on some issues. It's wonderful that the Cleveland Diocese has a "pro-life" office but in the meantime the Diocese entered into "covenantal relationships" with the ELCA Lutheran and Episcopal Churches, both of whom are pro-choice.

Sends a bit of a contradictory message, I think. And while no one could fault Pilla's work on social justice I wish he would have done a little more work on catechesis, which si bbadly needed across the board in the Church in America.

[Christine]

"which si bbadly needed"

Sigh. Make that "which is badly needed"

[Rob]

I always liked Bishop Pilla. Happy retirement Bishop!

[Christine]

Our Lady of the Atonement is just beautiful. I hope we see more Anglican Use parishes established.

[Gerard E.]

Looks like a reward. For keeping himself above the muck and mire of The Scandals. Looks like numerous prominent bishops are reaching retirement age. Even at 59, Bishop-Designate Lennon trends toward the young side. New blood at the top always invigorates organizations.

[AmericanPapist]

thanks brian, I'll take a look at that.

btw, I've got some more info on this appointment if people are interested (including audio of the press conference).

[padrechillin]

Is Bp Lemmon really solid or is he just one of the good ole' boys who is being bumped up and "rewarded" for not making too big of a mess in the immediate aftermath of the Cd. Law diaster in Boston? Is he really the type of character that is going to make that big of a difference in Cleveland where Bp. Pilla has done a lot of damage or allowed a lot of damage to occur over 25 years? The jury is definitely still out on Pope Benedict's bishop appointments in the US, so far not real impressive in my humble opinion, in light of the legitimate critiques from people like Weigal who said the great JPII's weakness was not appointing more orthodox priests as bishops during his tenure as Pope. The hopes were high with Benedict but has he delievered?

[Brigid]

"The hopes were high with Benedict but has he delivered?"

LOL. I just love comments like this in St. Blog's.

I mean, really, some of us here in St. Blog's really ARE "more Catholic than the pope!"

God bless ANY new bishop ANYWHERE at ANYTIME.

What an awful job to have now a days...

; - }

[Christine]

I think Pope Benedict XVI is going to prove to be like a powerful undercurrent -- you can't see it from the top of the water but underneath a lot of stuff is happening. He's been gifted with scriptural, patristic and theological acumen that will renew the Church.

It takes time.

[Rich Leonardi]

Christine, please explain which houses you think need to be cleaned.

RP, please explain which moral doctrine of the Church you think binds the Christian conscience.

[John Heavrin]

If he's going to the city of the rock and roll hall of fame, he really should have a co-adjutor Bishop McCartney.

[John Heavrin]

And by the way, he's younger than either McCartney is or Lennon would be.

[John B]

Brigid, while I think its a bit early still to commoent on the appoinments of Benidict XVI, I am not going to close my eyes while at the same time, accuse Catholics who have concerns as being "more Catholic than the Pope". People have real concerns, and a bad Bishop has the potential to do much harm, and I am not saying Bp. Lennon is bad, hence my initial post, but people have a right to ask questions.

[Maureen O'Brien]

I am very excited for the people of Cleveland. It must be great for them not to be in suspense anymore.

Here's some Cleveland links:

http://www.newsnet5.com/news/8458033/detail.html
(With video)

http://www.wkyc.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=50345

[Sr Lorraine]

For ten years before he became a bishop, Bishop Lennon was one of our chaplains at our motherhouse in Boston. As a confessor he was excellent and I can testify that he has always been a prayerful and hard-working priest and bishop. He is extremely dedicated to his vocation and has a good sense of humor too. I pray for him as he takes up this new pastoral ministry.

[Sr Lorraine]

About the Anglican rite, Bishop Lennon brought a whole congregation of Anglicans into the Church a few years ago, with their pastor who was then ordained a Catholic priest. It was a small congregation but they're thriving.

[Christine]

"What an awful job to have now a days..."

It ain't a job, Brigid -- it's a vocation. And with it go the joys and sorrows commensurate thereto.

Taking up one's cross and all that.

[Christine]

Thanks, Sr. Lorraine for a very inspiring synopsis of my new bishop. My prayers are with him.

[RP Burke]

A reply to Rich.

It starts with, in the church's universal language (i.e., the one that no one anywhere really understands):

Credo in unum Deum, Patrem omnipotentem ...

A reply to Christine.

Thank you for your reply. I'm a bit puzzled as to why a 'covenantal relationship' on issues other than abortion with Christian communities that disagree with the official Catholic position on appropriate public policy toward abortion is such a problem.

(An aside to Rich: While you're busy trying to find a rationale to burn me at the stake, metaphorically speaking, please remember to read all my words here, not just the few you pluck out to support your rash judgments.)

[Christine]

Well RP, as a lifelong Lutheran before my conversion to Catholicism my denomination was once firmly pro-life. I can tell you that once the abortion barrier falls a whole host of other stuff goes with it. And knowing how to recite the Creed hasn't saved one baby's life. Remember the teachings of the early church via the Didache? Abortion is a no-no.

I find much more commonality with the Orthodox these days than my former Lutheran confreres.

[Rich Leonardi]

R.P.,

Your unceasing support for both abortion rights legislation and candidates with 100% NARAL voting records is more revealing than your sophomoric grasp of Latin.

But of course anyone who points this out is dismissed as a "single issue" voter or via some other shortcut from thinking.

[padrechillin]

Brigid,

It has nothing to do with "being more Catholic" than the Pope. The reality is and has been pointed out by many insightful people like Weigal and Neuahas and Russel Shaw that John Paul II appointed many bishops who were not only weak but some were heretical. If the appointment in San Fransisco of the recent Archbishop by Pope Benedict who said "Brokeback Mountain" was an insightful and worthwhile movie for all to see, we have some concerns about Benedict too. The status quo seems to continue in the Church. I hope I am wrong, and by the way, hope Bp Lennon turns out to be a rock solid bishop. But I think the questions need to be asked especially in light of the priestly scandal cover-up which were mostly JPII bishops, by the way, who hid the rot, and often taught heresy on top of it.

[RP Burke]

Rich, you present one teaching moment after another.

If you actually read what I wrote, you'd find that I point out the reasons why the church's official preference for government policy on abortion - Not Ever, No Exceptions - fails in the political marketplace. In case you've forgotten, it's the problem caused by the bishops wishing to distinguish for the whole nation what is religious and what is secular, in a country where no one religion is to have the power of the state.

By the way, if you check the record, you'll find that US Rep. Ted Strickland (the Democratic candidate for governor in Ohio) voted FOR the ban on late-term abortions.

0 for 2.

[RP Burke]

Christine,

Maybe what would help the cause the most, especially with our nearby Protestant neighbors (like Lutherans and many Episcopalians), would be to articulate what the country and the world would be like if abortions were banned, now and in toto.

The terms of the argument -- "Take your hands off that baby, you murderer!" "Oh, yeah? Take your hands off that woman, you oppressor!" -- have to change or nothing will change. Is it even possible to redefine "choice" to mean the choice whether to have sex, rather than whether to bear the child that results?

Raw political power doesn't produce conversion, as we have learned by the collapse of the established churches in Europe.

[Jason]

I don't think the Church has a doctrine about "Brokeback Mountain" or any other movie. The Bishop is entitled to his opinion as much as anyone else is. Just because he found it to be a good movie doesn't mean he disagrees with the Church's teaching. I may like "The Godfather", but that doesn't mean I disagree with the Church's teaching against murder.

Bishop Lennon seems to be a good man. God bless him in his new appointment.

[Sam]

Bishop Lennon (when a monsignor) celebrated our wedding. I echo Sr. Lorraine's observation: He was (and probably still is) very funny. Very powerful mind, as well.

[Patricia Gonzalez]

BXVI has only been Pope for one year, for Pete's sake! The man has barely had time to accustom himself to actually being Pope -- no one can honestly say that they're totally prepared for that position. Sitting in the Chair of Peter must be an awe-inspiring, sometimes terrifying experience, and I would imagine it takes some getting used to. Personally, I pray for the Holy Father every day, and I think we all should do that instead of criticizing the man. Remember the old saying: "Those who can, do; those who can't, criticize." Viva il Papa!

[padrechillin]

Jason,
Let's just say if the new archbishop likes Brokeback mountain and is in the homosexual captial of the world, I don't think it is a reassuring sign of great orthodoxy. And Patricia, again I love Pope Benedict personally I am just raising the question as to some of the early bishop appointments by him seem like the old status quo, which got us in the mess we are in, in the American Church with the culture of dissent in dioceses, weak leadership, and most of all the cover-up of the priest scandal which continues to this day, witness the archdiocese of L.A. and Cd. Mahoney, who was one of JPII's more unfortunate appointments which has wrecked havoc in the American Church- just witness how he treated the saintly Mother Angelica and tried to destroy her network EWTN, which has probably brought more people into the Catholic Church than anything else in the last 25 years here in America; let alone in the trenches in L.A, which is a spiritual wasteland. Read the L.A. Catholic for more info. Is Lennon in this mold? I mean who cares how funny he is people- teach the faith dude; that's all most people want.

[Jason]

Let's just say if the new archbishop likes Brokeback mountain and is in the homosexual captial of the world, I don't think it is a reassuring sign of great orthodoxy.

That's where you're going wrong, judging someone's orthodoxy because they happen to like a movie. So what if he's in San Francisco? Maybe has a particular sympathy for homosexual persons, and that makes him more sympathetic to certain points of the film. I don't have to agree with him to respect his right to have an opinion.

[Mary Alexander]

Bishop Lennon is known for his "hardball tactics" in defending the Church against Civil suits by victims of sexual abuse. He called for countless "moratoriums" on legal action (stalling tactics) and re-victimized abuse victims and their parents. He hired a First Amendment lawyer to defend against the civil suits on the grounds of freedom of religion.

I can't say I'm excited about this appointment.

[rcesq]

Mary Alexander: Can you please explain why the Church as a defendant can't avail itself of legal procedures and defenses permitted to any other defendant in the civil or criminal courts? Where does it say that just because you're a religious organization you must simply hand yourself over to the plaintiff's bar like a lamb to slaughter? And even though there are real victims of sexual abuse (however that is defined), until a plaintiff proves his case his claims are allegations only. Saying you're a victim doesn't make it so. Just remember that many of the suits are against priests who are dead and defenseless. If Bishop Lennon chose what you characterize as "harball" defense tactics to put plaintiffs to the proof, there's nothing improper, unfair or re-victimizing about that. It's how the system works.

[Christine]

RP, as I stated previously, it isn't just abortion per se that makes me nervous about a "covenantal" relationship with Lutherans and Episcopalians. There was a time when Lutherans were a firmly confessional tradition and I was proud to be part of such a Christ-centered denomination. Now, along with abortion, that identity is being redefined as it has steadily been among the Episcopalians and a whole host of other problems are cropping up. It's not for nothing that both the ELCA and the Episcopal Church in the U.S. have produced organizations that are working very hard to bring both bodies back to their catholic roots.

Simply having outwardly similar liturgical forms is not enough for unity with Catholics. That's why I am more comfortable these days with the Orthodox than other western Christians who are morphing into bodies disconnected from their roots.

Lots of info about Bishop Lennon in today's local paper. I'm liking what I'm reading.

[Jake Runyon]

When I was in the seminary in Boston, Bishop Lennon was my rector for a year and half (that is until he was made apostolic administrator of the Archdiocese) and I cannot tell you how happy I was to hear that he was being placed in charge of 800,000 Catholics in Cleveland. I was always struck by his personal integrity. He is a solid and personable man, who always gave me a good example to emulate as I went through formation. I was sad to see him leave St. John's Seminary, but I knew then that we couldn't keep him for long. Also, it may have been my personal perspective but I was hoping that he would stay on as the Archbishop of Boston; but, it was not to be. He had only been a bishop for about a year when he took over the Archdiocese and I'm sure that these past few years have taught him much about the pastoring of souls. Though I think I have a great bishop, who was also an Auxiliary bishop from Boston, I have to admit I'm a bit jealous of Cleveland. Pray for your new shepherd and trust always in the Lord

Jake